Richborough Confirmation

To the candidates for confirmation who have been baptized the Bishop says-

Bishop: Have you been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit?Candidates: I have.

Bishop: Are you ready with your own mouth and from your own heart to affirm your faith in Jesus Christ?Candidates: I am.

To the congregation the Bishop says-

Bishop: Faith is the gift of God to his people. In baptism the Lord is adding to our number those whom he is calling. People of God, will you welcome these candidates and uphold them in their life in Christ?All: With the help of God, we will.

THE DECISION

The congregation sits. The Bishop addresses all the candidates’ saying-

Bishop: In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light. To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him. Therefore I ask:

Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?Candidates: I reject them.

Bishop: Do renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?Candidates: I renounce them.

Bishop: Do you repent of the sin that separate us from God and neighbour?Candidates: I repent of them.

Bishop: Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?Candidates: I turn to Christ.

Bishop: Do you submit to Christ as Lord?Candidates: I submit to Christ.

Bishop: Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?Candidates: I come to Christ.

All stand. The Bishop, clergy and all the candidates go to the font.

A hymn may be sung.

THE PROFESSION OF FAITH

The Bishop addresses the whole congregation

Bishop: Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess together with these candidates the faith of the Church.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?All: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Bishop: Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?All: I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven; he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Bishop: Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?All: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Having proclaimed our baptismal faith before the Bishop, the confirmation candidates who have previously been baptized come to the font and sign themselves with water. The baptismal rite concludes with this prayer.

Bishop: Almighty God, we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith with all who have been baptized in your name. Keep us faithful to our baptism, and so make us ready for that day when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.All: Amen.

Hymn: NEH 138, Come Holy Ghost, our souls Inspire.

THE CONFIRMATION

The bishop stands before those who are to be confirmed and says-

Bishop: Our help is in the name of the Lord,All: who has made heaven and earth.

Bishop: Blessed be the name of the Lord,All: now and forever. Amen.

The Prayer over the Candidates

The Bishop extends his hands and prays-

Bishop: Almighty and ever living God, you have given these your servant’s new birth in baptism by water and the Spirit, and have forgiven them all their sins. Let your Holy Spirit rest upon them: the Spirit of wisdom and understanding;All: Amen.

Bishop: N, be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.Candidate: Amen.

Bishop: Peace be with youCandidate: And also with you.

The Bishop invites the congregation to pray for the newly confirmed-

All: Defend, O Lord, these your servants with your heavenly grace, that they may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more until they come to your everlasting kingdom. Amen.

THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

THE PEACE (or appropriate peace after the Lord’s Prayer if using another Rite)

Bishop: God has made us one in Christ. He has set his seal upon us, and, as a pledge of what is to come, has given the Spirit to dwell in our hearts. The Peace of the Lord be with you always.